1965 Ford Mustang 289 'Hi-Po' K Code

Some say that the Ford Mustang created its own industry sector by offering an affordable sports car for the daily commute, performance to raise a smile when in the mood and enough space for the family when required. That may well have been the case, however, it mattered not as the Mustang became a worldwide success story. The second of two models, the Coupe was marketed as the hardtop version of the convertible, and is today known as the 'Notchback'. The sportier-looking Fastback Coupe was launched in early 1965, clearly defining the Mustang range and was the genesis for the line of performance Mustangs that followed. An early example of those hot (well warm) Mustangs from the production line was the 289 High Performance (Hi-Po) which was later to form the basis for Carroll Shelby's legendary GT350.

Records show that just 466 1965 K-Code cars were built at Ford's Dearborn factory, many destined for Shelby's Los Angeles workshops. The example offered here is a February 19th 1965 registered Ford Mustang K-code Hi-Po refinished to the most exacting standards. It's possibly the finest early correct example available worldwide and all tuned Mustangs, even today, can trace their DNA back to this car. Purchased by our UK vendor three years ago in the United States, the restoration was carried out by the renowned Mustang expert and MCA judge, Denis Frances, of Danville Virginia.

It was subject to a bare-metal, rotisserie restoration with the unusual brief to present the car exactly as it would have left the factory complete with factory overspray detail and crayon marks. Finished in Caspian Blue and with a black interior and Carlite factory tinted glass, it is totally faithful to the original specification and retains its original door plate. Its original V8 289 Hi-Po engine was rebuilt at the same time as the restoration at a cost of $7,000 by a top US engine builder.

The 4-speed. "top-loader' manual gearbox was also rebuilt at the time and the full specification includes black Decor seats, 9-inch differential, front discs with dual master cylinder, date-correct seat belts, correct steel wheels and reproduced Arvinode exhausts. This Mustang really is as good as it gets, and with just 300 miles since the restoration it caught the eye of our vendor on a plinth at the Silverstone Auctions NEC Classic Motor Show in 2014. In more recent years, it has been rightly displayed on the 'Pride of Ownership' stand and the vendor has covered some 1,200 miles in the car since. Our vendor has subsequently added a spare wheel with cover, fitted a period correct radio with modern electrics, prop-shaft seals and a passenger side window regulator, with the works carried out by noted specialist Bill Shepherd Mustang at a cost of £2,358.

Presented to auction with a history file that includes recent receipts, V5C, owners manuals, a book entitled 'The 289 Mustang High Performance Mustang Story'  and an odometer reading of 20,987 miles at the time of cataloguing.